jonathan’s story - lifeshare carolinas€¦ · 1 jonathan’s story 3 taking second chances to...
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A Quarterly Newsletter of LifeShare Of The Carolinas
VOLUME 19
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ISSUE 4
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WINTER 2016
IN THIS ISSUE:
1 Jonathan’s Story
3 Taking Second Chances toHeart
4 Donation Makes It AllPossible — 2016
6 Your Name Is Important
6 LifeShare Names New CEOand Executive Director
7 Donor Statistics byHospital
8 Happy Holidays fromLifeShare
A Donate Life Organization
Jonathan’s StoryAs Told by his mother, Laura MingusAs is our tradition, this edition of the newsletter is dedicated to donor families
Friday April 23, 2010 started out just like every
other Friday. I woke up, went to my seven-year
old son, Jonathan’s, bedroom, woke him up,
gave him clothes to put on, and went to the
kitchen to fix breakfast. We ate breakfast
together. He brushed his teeth and we went to
sit by the front door to wait on the school bus.
As we waited, we played our usual word
game talking about what kind of day it was
going to be. As the bus made its usual turn on
the dead end road across the street from our
house, Jonathan gave me big hugs and kisses
as we decided he was going to have a
“stupendous” day at school.
The bus stopped across the street from our
driveway. One car passed and Jonathan started
across the street to board the bus. As I stood at the door waiting for him to get on the
bus, I heard the bus driver blow the horn, not the usual honk of a horn, but a long
blow… twice, which was extremely unusual. I heard tires squealing and a green
minivan hit my son. I saw my boy go flying through the air and land behind the bus.
I started screaming, thinking that my mind was playing tricks on me, then started
calling for my son, Joseph, who was 18 at the time. I ran out, in complete hysterics
and shock to where Jonathan was lying in the road. Joseph soon joined me, and
started performing CPR on Jonathan who was without a pulse or breath.
Joseph was very determined and focused and instructed me to call 911. Jonathan
began to breathe again but was still struggling for each breath. My daughter Ashley,
then 17, had awakened to my screaming and had also come outside by the time the
ambulance arrived.
Joseph, Ashley, and I went directly to Charlotte. We arrived at Levine Children’s
Hospital. Not long after getting there, they took us into a private family waiting
room. Shortly thereafter, a team of doctors came in and explained to me that
Jonathan’s spine was broken at the neck. Even though there was some brain function
now, they did not expect it to last. They allowed me to go in to see Jonathan. Many
family members and friends took turns visiting with Jonathan and me. He was officially
declared brain dead around 7 PM on Friday.
I was approached by two men from a company called LifeShare Of The Carolinas.
They talked to me about the possibility of donating Jonathan’s organs. They were so
kind, calm, considerate and respectful in the way they spoke to me.
2 L I F E S H A R E O F T H E C A R O L I N A S
LifeShareOf The Carolinas
1-800-932-GIVE
www.lifesharecarolinas.org
Editor
Debbie Gibbs
Associate Editor
Ben Martin
O U R M I S S I O N
Improving lives through organ,
eye and tissue donation.
OU R V I S I O N
We envision a day when everyone
who needs a transplant will be
able to get one.
I knew a little bit about organ donation. I’ve had the heart on my license as long as
I can remember. But I never knew the true significance of that little heart until these
last few years.
Jonathan was a very loving and giving little boy so there was really no question as
to what to do. We started the process for organ donation, and on Saturday, April 24th
at 10 PM, my baby boy was taken back to the operating room where his organs were
removed to help save other’s lives.
I stayed with Jonathan until I had no choice but to leave. Jonathan donated both
of his kidneys, his liver, his lungs, and both corneas. I know some details about the
recipients but I haven’t pursued contact with all of them yet. That is something I plan
to do soon. I have received a letter from one of the kidney recipients and I have
shared it in several settings.
I’ve done some volunteer work for LifeShare and I’ve had the chance to meet people
on all sides of the organ donation spectrum; donor families, organ recipients, and
some people that are on the waiting list. They have really fueled my heart to be an
advocate for organ donation.
We have created a memorial garden at Jonathan’s school and sponsored an annual
balloon release at our church to help his memory alive. This holiday season, I greatly
appreciate the opportunity to share my story and my Jonathan with all of you too!
Jonathan’s Story continued
WE REALIZE THAT GRIEF IS AN EXPERIENCE THAT IS UNIQUE TO THE SURVIVOR
It can be a lengthy process and it certainly doesn’t end when the funeral is over. You
and your loved one have given selflessly to others and we want you to know that we
acknowledge your loss, your grief, and your gifts.
LifeShare is now offering free grief counseling to all of our organ, tissue, and eye
donor families through our Continuing Care program. Grief counseling sessions are
50 minutes in length and can take place in the LifeShare office, over coffee, or on the
phone! The number of sessions may range from one to six, may be held consecutively
or can be scheduled on an as-needed basis.
Jesse Roberts, LifeShare’s Continuing Care Counselor, is a Nationally Certified
Counselor and a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate who has worked with
donor families for four years. You may schedule an appointment by calling Jesse at
(704)-512-3050 or by e-mailing him at [email protected].
LifeShare Expands Grief Counseling Services
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Number of Candidates on theNational Transplant Waiting List
Kidney 99,238
Liver 14,562
Pancreas 957
Kidney-Pancreas 1,796
Heart 4,043
Lung 1,432
Heart-Lung 44
Intestine 272
NATIONAL TOTAL 119,593
North Carolina 2,859
South Carolina 1,013
Based on OPTN data as of November 25, 2016.
Taking Second Chances to HeartPilot, three-time Super Bowl
winner, former NFL Coach,
designer of the no-huddle
offense, MBA graduate. Those
are all words to describe South
Carolina native Sam Wyche. But
in the early hours of September
12, 2016, the word that
described him best was patient.
Coach Wyche was in a hospital
bed at Carolinas Medical Center
desperately in need of a heart
transplant. It wasn’t looking good. In fact, he had been told by a doctor that he would
be sent home later that day with Hospice care, “to make him comfortable for as long
as was necessary.”
Later that evening, his wife of 51 years, wrote: “At exactly 5:25 pm Monday
evening, Coach Wyche was visited by one of his physicians who had the earlier
morning conversation with him that most likely he was not a candidate for an LVAD
(a device used to bridge patients to transplant). The demeanor of this visit was the
polar opposite of the morning. This was a "semi-thumbs-up."
He wanted to let him know that they may have located a donor heart for him. He
called us at 7:38 pm to confirm it. Sam still wanted to wait until he left to go to the
OR to tell everyone. Now, I am thrilled to tell all of you he is now at 2:50 am on his
way to the OR for his new heart.
He does not know who the donor is nor any of the circumstances surrounding his
donor. Sam is eternally grateful as all of you can imagine. The day that began with
not the best news has come to a close with the best possible news for Sam.
Please pray for the donor, the donor's family and the incredible medical team who
have been and are taking care of him and doing this heart transplant in the wee
hours of Tuesday.”
Three months later Coach Wyche is now riding his bike 15 to 19
miles a day. The ultimate poster child for organ and tissue donation,
he has made promoting donation his mission in life.
Coach Wyche has written a book, titled “Third Down and Forever”, that has not yet
been published. It was completed prior to his hospitalization but he has since added
another chapter about his transplant, the “Hail Mary”. His story isn’t over yet. He is
looking forward to meeting the family of his donor and to put it in his terms, “hanging
around here a little longer.”
Expect to see more news stories about Coach Wyche. In the meantime, you can
follow his story through social media on his Facebook page and through his Twitter
account, #haveablessedlife.
W I N T E R I S S U E – 2 0 1 6
CALENDARof events
January 1, 2017Donate Life Float
at Annual Rose Parade
Check your local TV listings
February 14, 2017National Donor Day
UNC Charlotte
4 L I F E S H A R E O F T H E C A R O L I N A S
Donation makes REMEMBERING THE ORGAN, EYE AND TISSUE DONOR
Aaron Adili Alan Alford Alice Allen Alton Alvin Amanda And
Arthur Ashley Atiq Audrey Aurelia Avani Banks Barbara Ba
Bobby Bonnie Boyd Braxton Brenda Brian Brooks Bruce Cal
Catherine Cathryn Celso Chadwick Charlene Charles Cheyenne
Margaret Connie Cortland Crystal Curtis Cynthia Dakota Da
Deborah Debra Delmus Demetria Dennis Dewey Diamond Dia
Dwight Edgar Edward Edwin Elaine Elisabeth Elise Elizabeth
Florena Florence Forrest Francisco Franklin Fred Freddy Fredia
Glenda Glenn Glenna Grant Gregory Ha Hanna Harelis Harvey
Hunter Jack Jackie Jacob James Jamie Jan Jane Jason Jay
Jessie Jesus Jimmie Jimmy Joanna Joe Joel John Johnathon
Justin Kaieshi Karl Katherine Kathleen Kathryn Kaylee Kaylyn
Laruie Lauren Leah Nelson Leneil Lenwood Leo Leon Leona
Madison Marcus Margaret Margie Marie Marilyn Mark Marsh
McKayla Melissa Melvin Michael Micheal Michelle Milton M
Norman Odel Pamela Patricia Patsy Paulette Peggy Penny Pet
Renn Resia Rhonda Richard Riley Robert Roberta Robin Roche
Ryan Samantha Sandra Scott Selma Sharon Shawn Shirley Stan
Tammy Tanya Teresa Teri Terri Terry Thomas Tiffany Timothy
Victoria Vincent Walter Walton Wayne We
* The names listed here are from November 1, 2015 through October 31, 2016. Donors after this date will be included in next year’s Winter newsletter.
5W I N T E R I S S U E – 2 0 1 6
s it all possible! S OF 2016*. THEY ARE GONE, BUT NOT FORGOTTEN...
dres Andrew Angela Anita Anna Anne Annette Anthony Ardis
arry Ben Benedict Benjamin Bernard Betty Beverly Billy Blair
lvan Calvin Cameron Candace Carmen Carolyn Carrie Carroll
Chris Christa Christie Christopher Cierra Cletus Clifford Clyde
ale Dallas Dan Daniel Danny Daood Darlene Darrell David
ane Dollie Don Donald Donna Donnie Donnis Dorian Dustin
Emerson Emilee Emma Eric Erika Ernest Ester Eugene Evelyn
Garry Gary Geoffrey George Georgia Gerarado Gilbert Gladys
Hazel Heath Heather Hemant Henry Herbert Herman Hermon
Jaylah JB Jean Jeannine Jeffery Jennifer Jerald Jeremy Jerry
Johnny Jon Jonathan Jordan Joseph Joshua Joyce Judith Judy
ne Kelly Kenneth Keshya Khalid Kim Kimberly Kristan Larry
rd Lernard Leslie Leta Linda Lisa Lorraine Luke Lydia Lynn
a Marvin Mary Mary Ann Mary Frances Mason Matthew Max
olly Mosetta Bill Ronald Myron Naheim Nena Niko Norma
ter Philip Phillip Phyllis Randall Randy Raul Raymond Rebecca
lle Rodney Roger Rolland Ronald Ronnie Rosezena Rusty Ruth
nley Stephen Steven Susan Sylvester Tabitha Talmadge Tamichael
Tina Tony Gwendolyn Travis Trenia Trevor Vance Verne Veverly
ndell Whitney William Willie Windy Zaelyn
@
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STAY UP TO DATE
It’s our desire to stay in touch with you
and to help save the environment too!
If you would like to get our newsletter
in your in-box instead of your mail-box,
you can read it online at
www.lifesharecarolinas.org/resources.
To unsubscribe to the print version in
favor of the online one, contact
Let us know the best way to
communicate with you!
PLEASE CONSIDERMAKING A FINANCIALCONTRIBUTION
By making a donation to LifeShare,
you can help to save lives by raising
organ and tissue donation awareness.
You may contribute in several ways.
In lieu of flowers, LifeShare may
be designated as the organization to
receive memorials for funerals.
Contributions may also be made in
the name of a transplant recipient,
donor or other loved one. Each person
who makes a contribution to LifeShare
receives a thank you letter. A separate
letter is sent to the family or person in
whose honor the donation was made.
Please mail your check, payable to
LifeShare, to the address on the back
of the newsletter. All contributions
are tax-deductible and are used for
public education purposes.
L I F E S H A R E O F T H E C A R O L I N A S
WE’D LIKE FOR YOU TO LOOK AT YOUR NAME IN A NEW WAY. YOUR NAME HELPS
TO DEFINE YOU BUT IT ALSO HAS THE POTENTIAL TO SAVE LIVES. HERE’S HOW.
Donate Life America (DLA) has created a new campaign using people’s names to
increase the number of organ, eye and tissue donors around the country. To be clear,
they want the names of your friends, co-workers and classmates too!
You’ve probably heard of Coleman Sweeney, the fictional subject of an edgy public
service announcement. One day, he had a massive heart attack. It turns out he actually
had a heart after all, including one on his driver’s license. Coleman had given his
name to be a donor and because of that, he was able to save nine lives.
DLA wants you to lend your name to the project too. To make it easy, they have
created an Image Generator App that allows individuals to enter one or more names
which will then generate visuals for it. From Elizabeth Williams for example, several
names can be derived - Eliza, Liz, Beth, Will and Liam.
Images can be shared via Facebook, Twitter and e-mail signatures using #your-
namesaves. To try it, log onto yournamesaves.org and simply type in your first and
last name. Are you up for the challenge to be an advocate for something good? If
Coleman Sweeney can do it, you can too!
Submitted by Alisa Hayes, LifeShare Intern and Queens College Student
Your Name Is Important
LifeShare Names New CEOand Executive DirectorLifeShare is pleased to announce the appointment of
Jerome Menendez as Executive Director. Jerome has over
22 years of progressive healthcare experience in organ
procurement and transplantation and has served in various
positions including Transplant Coordinator, Transplant
Manager, Director and Assistant Vice President.
In his new role as the Chief Executive Officer of
LifeShare, Jerome assumes authority for administrative
and leadership functions and supervision of the
established organizational plan. He is also responsible
for ongoing communication with the Board of Directors.
He began his donation career with LifeShare in 1994,
later working for two other organ procurement organizations. Most recently, he
served as the Director of the Liver Transplant Program at Carolinas Medical Center.
Jerome holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from Chatham University and is
also a Certified Family Nurse Practitioner. He is engaged with several donation and
transplantation groups, including as a registered lecturer for NATCO, the
Organization for Transplant Professionals.
W I N T E R I S S U E – 2 0 1 6
LifeShare is pleased to offer
donor family members a
special way to remember
their loved ones—through
our memorial quilts, the
Quilts of Life.
We display the quilts in our
office and at special events
designed to promote organ
and tissue donation. Squares
are added to the quilts at
least once a year, usually in
the spring in time for
National Organ and Tissue
Donation Awareness Month.
If you would like to add a
square in memory of your
loved one, visit our web site
at lifesharecarolinas.org for
size dimensions, a release
form and other details. You
may also call us for additional
information at (704) 512-3303.
We look forward to receiving
additional squares and to
sharing the memory of your
loved one with others.
LifeShare gratefully acknowledges the commitment of all nurses and other medicalpersonnel who help to further the ideals of organ and tissue donation. It is throughtheir efforts and the generosity of donor family members that donation occurs. Whencomparing statistics, please note that not all hospitals have the same donor potential.
DONOR S TAT I S T I C S BY HOSP I TA L
July–September 2016
Hospital Eye Organ Tissue
Angel 0 0 1
Anson 0 0 1
Asheville Specialty 0 0 0
Carolinas Medical Center (CMC) 23 9 17
CMC - Lincoln 7 0 3
CMC - Mercy 0 0 1
CMC - NorthEast 8 2 6
CMC - Pineville 4 1 2
CMC - Union 6 0 3
CMC - University 1 0 0
CMC - Valdese 0 0 0
CMC - Waxhaw 2 0 2
Caromont 14 1 9
Cherokee 2 0 0
Cleveland 6 0 5
Harris 2 0 2
Haywood 2 0 1
Highlands-Cashiers 1 0 0
Kings Mountain 1 0 2
Lake Norman 0 1 0
Mission 13 7 13
Morganton 3 0 1
Murphy 1 0 2
NHP - Huntersville 2 0 1
NHP - Matthews 6 0 6
Novant 9 4 3
Pardee 4 0 3
Park Ridge 0 0 0
Rehab NE 0 0 0
Rutherford 1 0 1
St. Luke’s 1 0 1
Stanly 0 0 0
Swain 0 0 0
Transylvania 1 0 0
VA Medical 1 0 0
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Quiltof Life
LifeShareOf The Carolinas
5000-D Airport Center ParkwayCharlotte, NC 28208